kefir on hold?

[grooks]

Recently, I jumped on the kefir train... I have yet to make a good batch which I think has something to do with the temperatures and timing. It is warm here and I think it is staying out too long. I will have to figure this out in a couple of weeks.

I am going through a particularly stressful time right now. Overwhelmed, I shoved my kefir (that I waited so impatiently for) into the frig. Is this okay? I don't want to lose my kefir but I'm just limping along in life right now... the kefir will have to wait a couple of weeks.

Will my kefir be okay in the frig? I hope I don't lose it!

[MyLittleWarrior]

If you can find time to strain the kefir and put the grains in a little bit of fresh milk, I think they hold better in the fridge that way. I've held my grains in the fridge in a couple inches of fresh milk for a couple of weeks. It ususally takes 2-3 cycles to get them back on track once I start using them again, but they always come back around. If you just got grains, and they were dehydrated it could take 4-5 cycles before they're really going strong, so don't give up on them yet. But if you need a break there is no problem with letting them 'rest' in the fridge for a little while.

[grooks]

Thanks!! I will strain immediately!

[Althetrainer]

Just want to make sure what you have are milk grains, not water grains. If they are milk grains they should do just fine resting in the fridge in a bit of milk. When I have to rest my milk grains for a long time, I put enough milk to cover the grains then into the fridge they go. Once a week or so, I take them out and rinse them (the milk they rest in tends to get very thick and slimy after a while) with fresh milk or whey, put them back in fresh milk, then allow to rest for another week or so. Best of luck!

Al